Patient endurance

God sends us times of waiting to test and strengthen our faith. From it we can learn to depend on His grace to be patient. A great deal of the Christian life is about patience and endurance:

...we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Romans 5:3-5

Part of patient endurance entails being surrendered or submitted to God's will. It requires us to deny ourselves and be obedient to what He knows is best for us. His prime concern is not for our happiness, but for our holiness. He uses trials, difficulties, struggles to draw us nearer to Him and to teach us to grow in dying to self and in serving others. Christ set that example for us during His time here on earth.The best thing is that Jesus is a Friend that will always be there to help us through the hard times, even when others cannot be. He will never leave us nor forsake us.

As we walk in obedience, we allow ourselves to be controlled by the Spirit. Instead of indulging the flesh by focusing on what WE want or by allowing negative emotions and discouragement or self-pity to creep in, we can have peace and joy of heart because of a mind set on Him and His purposes. Sometimes we need to take an honest look at our attitudes and confess a lack of submission or trust in His sovereignty. Being victimized by our emotions is not necessary when we are focusing on the Lord and allowing Him to renew our minds and wills. Joy of heart is God's blessing to those who love, serve, and obey Him.

He that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about. Psalm 32:10